midnightstar | (no subject)

Spending day after day in the cabin Natsu had built near the Guild, going on missions and living, being WITH Natsu was plain and simple, pure. Heaven. Lucy could genuinely not think of any time she was as happy as she was with him. It still amused her to think of the times she was too flustered to acknowledge her feelings for him, until things came to a head.

And then the kids came along during that mission - Nev and Justine, along with their 'mom' Regine. If Natsu becoming an integral part of Lucy's life was like completing her, then the kids and Regine were the added frosting on a perfected cake. Yeah that metaphor was all over the place. GRANTED it was a little difficult to get time alone with Nev and Justine almost demanding their attention a good amount of the time, but she didn't mind, and didn't think Natsu did either. They had their evenings together, and their little hiding spots to sneak away to, sometimes just for fun.

Meanwhile the first rays of light were beginning to filter in through the window-shades of their room, with Lucy snuggled up against Natsu's side, an arm wrapped around him with a faint smile on her lips. Not quite awake yet, but in that in-between point of just about to rouse. The birds had barely even begun to chirp when the distant BAM! of a door swinging open, followed by barely hushed giggling voices and scampering feet could be heard by Dragonslayer senses with ease, obviously heading towards said cabin.

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Lucy nodded, "Yeah, that's about what she said. It's such a relief ... but it's really strange that so much time passed and we were 'here' through it all. Even though we were in that other place too." It's kind of confusing.

Levy tilted her head, "What was this 'other' place you keep talking about, Lu-chan? Is it like that other Earthland?"

Lucy hesitated, "Kind of, but not at the same time. If you want we can fill you in now?"

Levy nodded, helping Regine pry Mirajane off of her arm, "I'm really curious - if you guys feel up to it, I want to hear about this."

"Yeah I figured as much. It's definitely a real headache." Natsu nodded before he turned his look over to Levy. Yeah now was a good time to put it all on the table. Except the full steps that his relationship with Lucy had progressed to. Lucy would want to make it back without her top blown from embarrassment.

"Aright. But you better grab a chair since this is gonna be long."

So the two started to tell the story of everything that happened in Genessia. All of the good and the bad.

Dear lord if he was THAT open about what happened in Genessia, Lucy really would make good on her previous mock threats to make him sleep on the couch. What went on in the privacy of their bedroom was no one's business but theirs no matter how nos--er, inquisitive her dear friends in the guild were.

But everyone more or less, pulled up chairs as she and Natsu told their ~~fairy~~ tale, with Regine pipping up now and then - since she was from there, it was a little easier for her to fill in the blanks on the parts of the world Lucy and Natsu were unfamiliar with.

Mirajane pulls away briefly to get drinks for the two since that's a LOT of talking to do. When they finally stop, Levy let out a long sigh, "That's crazy Lu-chan... I can't believe you were actually in two places at once that whole time. Or even that we were there too - I don't remember any of it."

"And we lived it too," Lucy laughed.

"Well it's good you're finally home." Mirajane grinned. "And ~together~. I knew it would happen - i knew it!" <3

She would never! Would she? Anyway it didn't come to that so Natsu had nothing to worry about. This time at least.

"Yeah. ANd we managed to bring Nev Justine and Regine with Herb with us too." Natsu agreed with a big smile as if there had never been that great of a risk.

Probably not. But she'd still threaten it! And if she ever did make him sleep on the couch odds it was a punishment that wouldn't last the night before either he came sneaking back or she forgave him and climbed onto the couch with him.

"I'm sure the Fairy Tail guild is still there, even though we've left. But seeing the original, it's so much more grand and inviting here." Regine grinned around the room, "I don't think Lucy or Natsu even once thought that they wouldn't be able to go back home - to this Magnolia."

Lucy shook her head, listening to the sound of the children playing outside, Herb's happy barking. "I didn't." Well - she did get a little discouraged once or twice, but... "Even if I did, Natsu would never let me think something like that." She gave him a fond smile.

And he knew that all too well which was why the threat itself didn't have much of an effect on him.

"That's right. I brought you to the guild the first time, then I brought the guild back together after it broke up. There's no way I wouldn't bring us all here in the end."

Lucy's grin only grew ten times warmer, much to the amusement of...several that were watching the group. Mirajane smiled lightly, "Well! Are you hungry? I can whip up some food for you guys, and the children in the back - Oh, Regine, I can show you around in the back as well. Of course you'll have to meet the Master before it becomes official, but I don't think it'll be a problem." She chatters happily.

Lucy nodded - she'd almost forgotten how hungry she had gotten when they walked over to the guild hall. "Thanks Mira - we'll go and settle in." It's been a while without being a while - she wanted to breathe in the atmosphere of the guild more.

"Hell yeah. It's been way too long since we've had your cooking Mira!" Natsu answered eenthusiastically before sensing Lucy wanted to soak in the home sweet home feeling of the guild now that they were finally back and safe and sound.

Lucy giggled at the enthusisatic response, finding a bench that was unoccupied before glancing around - if Natsu wasn't following right away, she beckoned him over with a smile. It's not going to be as cozy as they get when they were alone, but she still wanted him close by.

She was actually contemplating where they could put Regine and the kids up for the meanwhile - but Mira might have an idea on that end. "I feel exhausted," she sighed, slumping against the table. It just felt like everything they'd been through in the past year and a half she was feeling only now, now that everyone was safely home.

Not a chance. As soon as Mira went off to fix something up Natu was right behind Lucy, ending up in the seat next to her while his arm looped around her waist as he leaned against her closely.

"Not surprised~ You did just get one heck of a grilling from the other girls~" he chuckled warmly while his eyes went over the guild, admiring the rowdy bunch that they were.

She smiled as she felt him following hot on her heels, shifting her slump to lean against his side, slipping her hand in his. Chuckling as well, she leaned against him, "That's true - though that's not the only reason. It's everything we've been through too." Although the interrogation was definitely draining.

He nuzzled his cheek against her shoulder slightly while smiling up at his beloved celestial mage.

"Well it's all over and done with now. Only the big bright future for all of us waiting ahead~"

Lucy smiled at the feel of him nuzzling against her shoulder, slipping her arms around his one arm, hugging him close and paying no attention to the squealing from Mira. She'll get used to seeing it as much as Lucy will get used to being cuddly with Natsu with their guildmates around. "I can hardly wait." She grinned, "Really.. it's like our dreams finally came true." Being together in their own world. "We're going to have to find all new dreams." WELL, she still had her dream of being a writer.

Natsu heard the squealing the loudest but didn't react as if he heard it. Instead he allowed himself to snuggle up close to his beloved star. "That's right. All of us from now.""

He smiled and leaned to press his lips to her cheek for a moment. At least it was her cheek instead of her neck or lips this time

Not even Natsu would be THAT cheeky to sneak a kiss to her neck or lips while everyone was watching! Right? Well..maybe the lips, but still!

She exhaled softly, chuckling as he snuggled up close. Another squeal was heard, this time followed by a *THUD* and Regine's startled cry, "Um! Mirajane! Miss Mirajane are you okay?"

"I don't think ... Mira's ever going to get used to this." Lucy muffled a giggle against his arm, "I'm in the same boat though." She felt far too excited being home and being able to hug him like this.

Though her thoughts were interrupted by a mighty, "RAAWWRRR!", from outside, a shriek from Justine as she dashed into the guild, followed by Azusa who fired her little gun with 'pop pop!'s at the fearsome dragon Nev, who'd wrapped himself up in a small blanket to terrorize the girls. Herb was getting into the act too, barking animatedly at the boy's heels and biting onto the blanket to try to pull him back.

Lucy watched the scene as the boy and dog chased the two girls around various tables, before breaking into giggles.

Wouldn't he? One could never know~ Lucy would be wise not to take that for granted after all since Natsu was just full of surprises.

He turned to look over to where Mira had passed on happily because of the two of them.

"Hahaha probably not. But that's not gonna stop me~"

But then the kids run on through and even that gives Natsu a moment of pause before chuckling.

"They're already fitting right in~"

That's true, he did like ambushing her... she was going to have to stay on her guard! Meanwhile poor Regine was fanning an all too happy Mira with a towel, the white haired woman gone all swirley-eyed.

"Regine is reminding me a little of my first introduction to Fairy Tail," Lucy giggled, reaching up to gently run her fingers through his hair. Yeah, she didn't for a second thing anything would stop him from his usual shenanigans, and she'd have it no other way.

As the children finish their circuit, with Asuka gaining the upperhand and chasing Nev out of the guild to the yard beyond, Justine cast an amused glance back at the pair before scampering after her brother and the little one. "He's really taken after you a lot." And Justine had that same exasperated, amused expression Lucy often wore for Natsu's antics.

"I don't see that as a bad thing at all~ Look how great you turned out~" The very best in the world as far as he was concerned. Bias? As if. Merely giving credit where it was due. That was all

When the kids run on through and then out the door Natsu just chuckled shamelessly before answering back.

"Not going to apologize for him having such good taste in role models~"

"Oh, and are you taking credit for that?" She smiled. He should, he encouraged her every step of the way. Well, there were rough patches when she had been selfish and a little whiny at first - but even those moments were few and far between. Though thinking of that, Lucy couldn't help but think back to Luna, the daughter from the... future? Alternate world? She never did clarify that... she glanced at Natsu out of the corner of her eye, but before she could say anything, a newly recovered Mira approached with Regine, clutching the other woman's arm excitedly, "Sorry about the delay you two~!" Ah, they're so cute she can't handle iit. "And Regine knows so many of our usual recipes. Even new ones - she promised to teach me."

Lucy grinned, "I'm glad she's a help for you. Where's Master Makarov?"

Mira put a finger to her lips, "Actually, the Master was called away just recently, with Gildarts. They'll be back in a week or so. They'll be so glad to see you - together!" eeee!

"Well I am your partner~ You take credit for how I've changed after all~" And he had though in more subtle ways than Lucy herself. Still there was no wonder the two of them had gotten better through each other.

"Oh? The council giving us some lip again even after everything that's happened?" That seemed to be the standard whenver Makarov was away from the guild.

Lucy grinned, though she quieted, settling into leaning against him when Mira spoke. The white haired wizard shook her head, "Not exactly 'lip'... they wanted a full report from Makarov and Gildarts both. Although knowing them," she sighed a little, "I'm sure they'll try to find some reason to put blame on us." Ah well. You'd think they had more important things to do - but they always seemed to like picking on the distructive Light guild.

Mira surveyed the table, then the couple again, "Anyway, eat your fill. If you need seconds, just call on us - I'm going to finish showing Regine around." A few seconds later, a set of children, giggling and worn out from playing, wandered in, following their noses to the smell of delicious food. Immediately they beelined over to the table, and Mirajane and Regine went to fetch more bowls for the kids and even little Herb.

"You'd think saving their asses from the empire would get them to back off for once." Natsu grumbled with annoyance. Oh well it wasn't like they weren't used to that kind of treatment. So it didn't matter really. They would keep being Fairy Tail no matter what.

"Will do!" Natsu answered eagerly before turning his eyes up as the kids ran right back in wiht Herb on their tails.

"Hahaha you guys look like you had fun~"

Lucy chuckled softly, patting him on the shoulder. There there. More importantly, food! "Oh I'm starving," Lucy grinned, pulling away from Natsu enough to turn her attention to the food. Though she grinned when the kids came in for munchies, "Worked up an appetite?"

"Uh-huh! It's gonna be my turn to be a dragon next!" Azusa chirped with a grin, "And Justine's gonna be my princess~!"

Lucy perked, "Ah, really? Why a princess?"

Azusa nodded, beaming, "Because dragons always have princesses." She glanced at Natsu as if to confirm this, though Nev, already digging into his food when it's brought over, casually adds, "Justine's not pretty or graceful as a princess thou-OW!" He grimaced as his sister kicked him. But he brightened again. "Lucy you want to be the Princess?"

Lucy paused, glanced at Justine, then grinned, "I think I'll sit this one out," she told the younger boy. "Your sister will be a fine princess." Besides, she wanted to chill with Natsu for a bit before they get mobbed again.

Wow Nev there are some things you just didn't say out loud like that. But then again Natsu was not really one to talk about such matters either.

"Asuka isn't wrong but this princess is already taken~" Natsu said pulling Lucy closer to his side when she ended up saying no more or less.

Yep. JUST like Natsu. Lucy glanced up from her plate to give Natsu a soft smile, shifting to move closer and lean into him affectionately when he pulled her closer.

"Awwww.." Asuka pouts a little, then pauses, scratching her head. "Will you play with us after you finish eating? Pleeeeeeeeease?" Big eyes. The big eyes tripled by Three, because Justine and Nev immediately join in on the chorus.

Lucy blanches at the lethal attack, "Uh..!" She glanced up at Natsu, mouthing a silent 'h e l p', even though they meant for both of the adults to play. "M.. maybe -one- game..."